Mr. De la Bèreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that certain chain stores have opened some refreshment counters and are preparing to open other refreshment counters in certain boroughs in the Midlands and elsewhere throughout the country, although there are British Restaurants established making adequate provision for meals at cheap prices; and whether he will take steps to prevent a continuation of this practice?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I must explain that it is not the policy of my Department to establish British Restaurants in areas where private enterprise is prepared and able to provide adequate facilities of the kind supplied by British Restaurants. As regards the last part of the Question, my Noble Friend has this week made an Order giving food control committees power, in appropriate circumstances, to refuse applications for a licence to open new catering businesses including refreshment counters such as are referred to by my hon. Friend.